Mainland support to arrive in Tasmania

Jan 6, 2013

Support teams from the Australian mainland are set to arrive in Tasmania today to help in the continued battle against bushfires, and with the quick assessment of damage.

The most serious fires which are on the east coast and near the capital Hobart, have been downgraded from their Emergency levels, but are still burning, with 13 fires currently listed on the Tasmania Fire Service website at various alert levels.

A New South Wales Rural Fire Service specialist assessment team is among the first to touch down in the island state, with a contingent of 65 Victorians also heading to Tasmania, to help battle the bushfires.

Victorian Fire Services Commissioner Craig Lapsley says the crews will leave Victoria tonight to work until Thursday in Tasmania.

No deaths have been confirmed, but an estimated 100 buildings have been destroyed.